Post #670576 by Lukeulele on Sun, Mar 10, 2013 8:25 PM

Pulled this off the web site, so if and when it is shut down, we still have it for posterity's sake here on TC.

When the rustic door opens you have entered your own fantasy… Surrounded by countless fish tanks, it feels like an underwater paradise. With an abundance of Tiki art and naval memorabilia you are now a native in a native land.

The first fish to greet you is Rufus, a thrity-three year old Pacu who has been featured numerous times in newspapers and magazines. Johnny Depp, a famous actor, starred with Rufus in the 1997 movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In a rare interview, Rufus said, "I like carrots, kids, and good looking women!" He is a character!

When you're ready to be seated, the friendly host or hostess will guide you through the trailed maze to your own private booth, each containing its own treasure of ambiance. The menu is an assorted collection of island recipes gathered by the founder, and Rufus's namesake, Captain Rufus. Keep in mind as you're making your ordering decisions, if you come to the BAHOOKA and don't try the ribs, you haven't really been to the BAHOOKA...
As for the drinks… We're often asked the definition of Grog. A Grog is an alcoholic beverage named after a British naval officer, Admiral Vernon, who introduced the drink (rum and water) in 1745.

BAHOOKA means shack; Aloha means many things: love, friendship, good wishes, farewell. The BAHOOKA has been welcoming friends like you since 1967.
As you crossed our threshold, you became shipwrecked on a deserted Island. Or such is the illusion we at BAHOOKA hope to create. It is more than an illusion; it is the inspiration and dreams of a group of people who have gathered all these castoffs so uniquely arranged to create an unusual atmosphere for your dining pleasure. We have created a shack for you. A place where you can enjoy delectable Polynesian ribs and exotic drinks. Our ribs are marinated in our secret formula and slow baked in our Polynesian ovens. Our drinks are concocted from the nectar of the islands gods. Both food and drink are prepared fresh daily for you under the matchless guidance of one of our associates. The food and drinks will speak for themselves, but the surroundings may warrant some explanation.

When the BAHOOKA was in the planning, we scanned the islands to gather much of the decor for our restaurant. Once you enter the BAHOOKA, you feel as if you've left the mainland. The structural bamboo in building has been imported from the Philippines and hand wrapped by the BAHOOKA natives. All lamps were hand crafted from castoffs, port holes, parts of ships, etc., and sprigs of imagination. Globular lanterns are actual glass floats from Japanese fish nets. Blow fish, dried and hollowed, hang with lights. On our ceiling, 400 lights blink at you like distant stars. The tortoise shells are from giant tortoises of the South Pacific. As you are seated for your Island meal, you will find yourself surrounded by exotic fish from over 100 aquariums. *Including a giant Pacu that eats carrots (ask to see him crunch on raw carrots!). Our bar top is a aquarium with turtles inside. At the far end of the dining room, our nautical section, note the beacons of "Port" and "Starboard", the ships flags the mast and, last but not least, the wreck of an old Spanish galleon. On our warrior wall you will note native weapons, spears, etc. And did you ever see such unusual fish tanks? Some you will recognize as old time hand gasoline pumps. Here again, imagination and creativity prevail.

As for a short history of BAHOOKA...
The names have been changed to protect the guilty…
Rufus T. Somethingorother had a love for the ocean, native women, and Grog (Grog probably first). On one of his reasonably assumed intoxicated adventures, Rufus found himself on an island somewhere in the South Pacific. As fate would have it, two days after his arrival he was caught having his way with the King's youngest and most favored daughter, Penelope. The punishment of such a crime was death by booga-booga, which is a most torturing way to go.
When Rufus saw the guards approaching his jail he thought it would be his last day on earth. When the door of cell 515253 slid open and Rufus saw the guardsmen kneel and bow to the floor he thought he was having one of those hallucinations again. It turns out that Princess Penelope told her father that Rufus had actually saved her life and was a very brave man; the witnesses, Googie and Gau Gau had very active imaginations because Rufus had only been trying to give Princess Penelope mouth to mouth in order to revive her.
That night. The historical night. The King had a feast in honor of his daughter's hero. While sitting across from the King, at the very moment just after the past and before the future, Rufus bit into a pork rib that would become the second most famous rib to mankind. Ahhh, the spectacular conception…While Salsa dancing with the King's cousin's husband's niece he was secretly told that Googie and Gau Gau were the ones who had the secret recipe for the preparation of the pork ribs. By this time all the native girls were referring to Rufus as Don Juan Hercules and he had no problem convincing Googie and Gau Gau to set sail with him the following morning.

Well, it sounds like a happy ending; however, it was a bit tragic. It is estimated that about sixty-nine miles off the coast of California, a strong gust of wind blew the mast of the boat causing it to slam in Rufus's face. Googie, thinking Rufus to be dead, screamed, "Where do we go?!"
Rufus, completely misunderstanding, replied, "It's only a nosebleed!" and, like a sack of yams, fell out of the boat never to be heard from again.

Finally reaching the shore, Googie told Gau Gau that Rufus said to go to Rosemead, so here we are!

© 2002-2013 Bahooka Family Restaurant